HOOD KNOWLEDGE: If you are thinking of installing a commercial-style range, be sure and read this about ventilation hoods. From Cultivate:

"For a time, range hoods were persona non grata in the kitchen--but all that changed once homeowners began clamoring for commercial ranges, which needed major hoods in order to efficiently extract smoke, grease and odors from these high-output stoves. Thus, the range hood has once again become a focal point in the kitchen, but venting a commercial range requires considerations beyond just looks. They also have to be able to handle serious cooking--here are 5 things to keep in mind when installing a hood for a commercial range."

"At first they talked about building one big house for everyone to share on the property. But everyone's personal needs didn't get them far. Instead, with the creative help of architect Matt Garcia, they built individual 350-square-foot studio cabins suited to each family, all sharing a similar design ethos: low tech, low maintenance and high design. Here's a tour of one of the cabins."

"My first job in New York City a dozen or so years ago was at Talas, an archival and bookbinding supply shop located, at that time, in SoHo. Amid the bookbinding supplies, the leather and the archival boxes were drawers and drawers of beautiful handmade papers. Customers were not allowed to touch the $20-per-sheet paper. Instead, they had to describe to me what they were looking for, and I would open the drawers one by one and take out individual sheets paper until we found the perfect one for their purpose."